Monday’s Sports in Brief

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa State basketball star Nikki Moody has sued coach Bill Fennelly, the university and the state for racial discrimination and retaliation, saying she was repeatedly called a “thug” and labeled a selfish player despite being the program’s career assists leader.

Fennelly, who has been Iowa State’s coach since 1995, constantly demeaned, berated, harassed and discriminated against Moody during her time with the Cyclones, according to a lawsuit filed in state district court that seeks unspecified damages.

Moody, who is black, said the discrimination she suffered led to a “hostile education environment through racial harassment.”

Iowa State released a statement saying that it “takes very seriously complaints of discrimination and harassment,” adding that it “takes issue with the allegations and looks forward to responding in full to the lawsuit as the legal process proceeds.”

PRO FOOTBALL

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld an estimated $1 billion plan by the NFL to settle thousands of concussion lawsuits filed by former players, potentially ending a troubled chapter in league history.

The decision released Monday comes nearly a year after a district judge approved the revised settlement. If there are no further appeals — either to a full panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia within two weeks, or the Supreme Court within 90 days — former players already diagnosed with brain injuries linked to repeated concussions could begin receiving benefits within 3-4 months, a plaintiffs’ attorney said.

“I couldn’t stress enough the urgency of getting this done,” said attorney Christopher Seeger. He conceded the settlement was hardly perfect, but two courts had now judged it fair.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Colts quarterback Andrew Luck says he has recovered from a kidney injury that forced him to miss the last seven games in 2015.

Luck also missed two games last season with a right shoulder injury. In his first substantial comments since early January, Luck said the shoulder feels good but that there’s still some offseason work to do before he’s 100 percent.

For the first time in his career, Luck will be working with a new quarterbacks coach. And new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who took over in November, is installing new schemes that Luck must master before the Sept. 11 season opener against Detroit.

PRO BASKETBALL

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — If teams come to the Warriors asking about interviewing top assistant Luke Walton, Golden State plans to oblige — just not while the defending champions are in the middle of a playoff series.

Coach Steve Kerr says the Warriors will grant permission for teams to interview Walton, who guided Golden State to a record 24-0 start and a 39-4 record while Kerr was on a leave of absence because of complications from two back surgeries.

But between series is the approved timing for any such meetings.

While Knicks President Phil Jackson has been in communication with Walton, Kerr insists Walton hasn’t interviewed for the New York vacancy — and Walton said the same thing to the San Jose Mercury News before Monday night’s Game 2 of the playoffs against Houston. Kerr said Jackson hasn’t reached out to Walton specifically about the job, and would need to go through Golden State general manager Bob Myers.

TENNIS

Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki says she is pulling out of clay-court tournaments in Madrid and Rome because of an injured right ankle, putting her status for the French Open in doubt.

Wozniacki sent out a tweet announcing the withdrawals from the two tuneups for Roland Garros, saying she “still needs time to heal.”

Earlier in April, she tweeted out a picture of her right foot and lower leg in a cast and wrote: “Rolled my ankle during practice today.”

Wozniacki, a two-time U.S. Open runner-up, is ranked 24th and is 8-7 in 2016. She hasn’t played since losing her second match at the Miami Open last month.

The Madrid tournament begins April 30, and Rome starts May 9. The French Open, the year’s second Grand Slam tournament, starts May 22.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

DENVER (AP) — Colorado officials and tribal leaders are urging public schools to eliminate Native American mascots unless they partner with tribes, calling it a unique way to address a national debate over what many consider derogatory symbols in high schools and sports such as the National Football League.

A state commission recommended the partnerships to ensure mascots, nicknames and logos respect Native American history. A collaborative approach honors school traditions while educating the community about tribal culture, said Gov. John Hickenlooper, who appointed the panel.

While the NFL’s Washington Redskins have resisted appeals to change their name and mascot, efforts to remove team mascots and imagery that are deemed offensive have been underway for decades.

OLYMPICS

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC says the impeachment process against Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff should not divert from preparations for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies voted to open impeachment proceedings against Rousseff, less than four months before the Aug. 5 opening of South America’s first Olympics. The measure now goes to the Senate, where a majority vote will determine whether Rousseff is suspended.

The IOC says preparations “have now entered into a very operational phase where these kinds of political issues have much less influence than at other stages of organizing the Olympic Games.”

The IOC coordination commission visited Rio last week for its final inspection ahead of the games.

The IOC says “we have seen the great progress being made and we remain confident about the success of the Olympic Games in August.”

MOSCOW (AP) — The Latvian scientist who developed meldonium says some male athletes who have taken the recently banned drug have used it in order to improve sexual performance.

The drug, which is typically recommended for heart disease patients, was banned for 2016, prompting at least 172 failed tests worldwide, including Maria Sharapova.

Ivars Kalvinsin, who created the drug, says many male athletes take meldonium “not as a sports performance enhancer but in order to improve their sexual performance.”

Last week, the World Anti-Doping Agency said athletes could be cleared if only minute traces of the drug were found in their system.